The harsh decrees of Antiochus Epiphanes against the Jews had the opposite effect from what he had intended. When he forbade religious practices and had the temple dedicated to a pagan deity, he sparked a Jewish struggle for freedom that lasted for over two decades, ushering in the Hasmonean dynasty.

Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity

Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, with contributions by many others, The Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity is a unique reference work that provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600.

With 115 different articles ranging from 5-20 pages in length, this substantive reference work explains details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, and religious practices, with extensive bibliographic material for further exploration. Whether as individual articles, individual volumes, or the complete four-volume set, this compendium of essays offers scholars, pastors, students, and professors an indispensable resource for biblical study, exegesis, and sermon preparation.